Jen Rose Writes🌹

Hey guys!

I’m back with another baking post! It’s not as exciting as last week’s (with Rocky road and flapjacks, you guys were spoiled!) but- I promise you- they’re just as delicious.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made Chelsea buns and more ‘savoury’ bakes before (The small amount of Food Tech I did at school taught me plenty of uses for pre-made pastry, and that tuna pasta belongs in the bin!) that would’ve suited this week’s Bake Off– Bread Week (read my thoughts HERE)- to a T but- until I learn and get better- my strength is in sweets.

Anyway, enough rambling. This week, I decided to make brownies- considering the fact that I couldn’t go to my friend’s house empty handed and they sort of expect this from me now. They were so simple to make and, in the end, they were a crowd pleaser.

The brownies only took a short time to make (about as long as it takes to gather and combine ingredients plus the 20 minutes cooking time) so, if you do find yourself making them, you have plenty of time to relax, put your feet up and (maybe) catch up on the latest episode of Bake Off (just a suggestion).

Here’s how to make these beauties:

Ingredients

140g soft brown sugar

2 large eggs

100g butter

150g chocolate

80g flour

20g cocoa powder

(Feel free to add whatever extra ingredients you wish. Maybe salted caramel or your favourite chocolate).

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 170/180 and line a square tin with baking parchment

2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of boiling water then leave to cool.

3. Whisk together the butter and sugar until the mix is pale and, when you lift your mixer, it leaves a trail (pale and leaves a trail, I’m sure you’ll remember that!)

4. Pour the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and fold carefully

5. Add the flour and cocoa powder (using a sieve) and fold carefully. (You can leave the cocoa powder out and add more flour and chocolate but I just felt that the cocoa powder added to the taste and the brownies were really rich and fudgy). Transfer the mix into the prepared tray.

6. Bake for 20 minutes or at least until the brownies are soft in the middle but (obviously) cooked through. (Of course you can adjust your baking time to suit how fudgy/not fudgy you want the brownies to be). Leave to chill then, once chilled, cut into slices and serve.

Here’s how they turned out:

In other news, I was nominated for a Sunshine Blog Award. I had no clue what that was but thankfully my nominee Miss Blogs-A-Bit explained. So, as well as this rambling recipe post, I’ve included my answer to 11 questions set by the blogger who nominated me, plus I’ll leave my questions for my nominees (get all that?). Also a big BIG thank you to the blogger who nominated me- it’s such a surprise considering the amount of time I’ve been blogging for but I’m glad that my content is viewed positively already. The nomination made my day!

Here’s the rules:

– Thank the blogger who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog

– Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you

– Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions

– List the rules and display the award’s logo in your post and/or on your blog

So, here’s the questions I was asked:

1. Do you collect anything – what is it and why?

I used to collect Disney Tsum Tsums (little stackable Disney toys) but then I sort of realised they were going to take up too much room if I continued!

My friends and sister contributed a lot to that collection though, as they all know how much I love Disney.

2. What was it that made you step into the world of blogging?

A few things. First off, a journalist did a talk at my uni once and said- in order to be a writer of whatever kind (which I’d love to!)- you have to a. Say ‘yes’ to things and b. Take opportunities. So I guess I took his advice, and my own initiative, and took the opportunity to blog. Also, I have wanted to blog for a long time and, for a while now (I’m very stubborn!), I’ve said I’d start blogging. My third year at uni (which starts very soon) was a big factor in my decision to blog. I thought about a way to take myself away from the stress might just be by documenting the stress! Plus, when I finish third year and I have to start being an ‘adult’ (ew) I thought that this might be a good platform for potential employers to get to know me/ this would be a good platform for me to showcase my writing skills.

3. Where in the world would you most like to travel to?

A few places! Paris, Budapest, Berlin, Venice, I’d love to see more of America and Spain. Mainly I think the places I’d like to travel to are quite romantic and couple oriented- so I might have to wait a while!

4. Do you tend to plan your blog posts far in advance or are you quite spontaneous?

I think, unfortunately, the nature of my blog (so far) means I have to plan ahead. I have to make sure I record my then and there response to Bake Off and I’ve also got to be careful to be precise on my recipe posts! When I do move to talking about uni and books, I can see the posts becoming more spontaneous.

5. Which famous person would you most like to meet and why?

I’d really like to meet Chris Pratt. He seems really funny and cool in real life so I’d love to see if he’s the same away from all the spotlights!

(Plus he’s nice to look at)

6. Which of your own posts is your favourite so far?

Wow, that’s like picking a favourite child! I guess my favourite post is my very first one on Bake Off (and my first post ever). It showcases what I love plus it showed me and the readers who I am and how I write- which I liked and hope people do, too!

7. What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is losing people. Even though it’s inevitable and I can deal with being alone, it scares me that one day I won’t have the connection I used to.

(Plus my small scale fears are clowns, balloons (only when they pop) and (I’ve grown out of this) people dressed in costumes).

8. What is your idea of a perfect weekend?

No early get up (which I always seem to ignore, even on weekends). Probably brunch with family or friends, then either going out to do something or staying in to watch TV/a movie. Or…baking!

9. Would you ever go on a reality TV show?

Although it’d be a great way to plug my blog/ inspiration for a book, I couldn’t think of anything worse!

10. If you were reincarnated as an animal, which one would you like to be?

Good question! I guess I’d be a dog because, considering I have one, I know they eat, sleep and play all day and don’t have to worry about anything!

11. Which one beauty item could you not live without?

It sounds stupid but something like Carmex. I get awful chapped lips at the best of times so it’s always good to have one handy!

Plus it smells great.

Here’s my 11 questions and 11 bloggers I want to nominate:

1. Who’s your blogging inspiration?

2. What did you want to be when you were younger?

3. What’s one food item you can’t live without?

4. Do you prefer sweet or savoury?

5. Best book you ever read?

6. Worst book you ever read?

7. Have you ever had a baking/cooking disaster?

8. What famous faces would you invite to a dinner party?

9. What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

10. What’s your favourite Gordon Ramsay meme?

11. Where do you want to go with your blog?

My nominations are: Aimys Antics|Awkward for Days| With Lujain| Imogen Chloe| Ruth in Revolt|Put the World to Writes| Makeup by Beth| Everyday Empowering | Lorna Cole| Emily K Burr and Bearded Igor

That’s me for now but, as always, I’ll be posting my thoughts on the next episode of The Great British Bake Off . So, stay tuned!

Have any of you been baking this weekend/ do any of you have any suggestions for what I should make next?